Overview

This bill aims to improve safety and safeguarding in the taxi and private hire vehicle industries by creating a national database of licensing decisions and improving information sharing between licensing authorities. It focuses on individuals with a history of offenses or concerning behavior that could pose a risk to passengers or road safety.

Description

The bill establishes a national licensing information database to record decisions made by licensing authorities regarding taxi and private hire vehicle drivers. This database will include information on individuals whose licenses have been refused, suspended, or revoked due to safeguarding or road safety concerns. The "relevant information" includes details of sexual offenses, harassment, causing harm, unlawful discrimination, threats, and road safety risks. Licensing authorities will be required to search this database before making licensing decisions. The bill also mandates reporting of concerns about out-of-area drivers to their licensing authorities, ensuring better oversight of drivers operating across different regions.

Key Features:

• Creation of a national licensing information database.
• Mandatory information sharing between licensing authorities.
• Clear definition of "relevant information" encompassing various offenses and concerning behaviors.
• Procedures for reporting concerns about out-of-area drivers.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify the exact cost of establishing and maintaining the national database. The associated costs will include development, maintenance, and staffing. Further costs may be incurred by licensing authorities for training and data processing. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Drivers: Drivers with a history of relevant offenses or concerning behavior may face more difficulty obtaining or renewing licenses.
• Licensing Authorities: They will have additional responsibilities for data entry, database searches, and information sharing.
• Passengers: The bill aims to improve passenger safety by preventing individuals with concerning histories from driving.
• The Public: The bill seeks to improve road safety for everyone.

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